Homaloxestis rawlinsi Park, 2018

Park, Kyu-Tek, 2018, Three new genera and ten new species of the subfamily Lecithocerinae (Lepidoptera, Lecithoceridae) from Cameroon, Africa, based on material collected in 1913 - 18, Zootaxa 4415 (3), pp. 561-579 : 563-564

Homaloxestis rawlinsi Park , sp. nov.

( Figs. 3, 4 , 7, 7a–b )

Type. Holotype: Ƌ, Cameroon, Efulen, H.L. Weber, Acc. 4794; Apr. 25 1916, gen. slide no. CIS-6851 . Paratypes: 1♂, same data as the holotype, gen. slide no. CIS-6854 ; 3♂, Cameroon, Efulen, H.L. Weber, Acc. 6257, Aug. 6 1918, gen. slide no. CIS-6859, wing slide no. CIS-6887.

Diagnosis. The male genitalia of the new species can be distinguished from those of H. subpallida Meyrick as follows: valva with anterior margin strongly convex, apex slightly produced, outer margin gently concave before middle with sparsely peg-like scales from apex to median protrusion along margin, and phallus with a pair of straight needle-like cornuti; in subpallida , anterior margin slightly convex, outer margin deeply concave before middle, with peg-like scales only on median protrusion, and phallus with a single heavily sclerotized cornutus.

Description. Male ( Fig. 3 ): Wingspan 15–16 mm. Head brownish orange dorsally, with orange-white scales laterally. Basal segment of antenna thicker toward apex, orange white to greyish orange all around; flagellum pale orange throughout, without distinct annulations. Second segment of labial palpus normally thickened, gently recurved, brownish orange on outer surface, paler on inner surface; 3rd segment slender, as long as 2nd, strongly recurved, dark fuscous on ventral surface. Tegula and thorax brownish orange. No hair-pencil from mesothoracic anepisternum. Hind tibia with shiny, rough, orange-white scales above. Forewing ground color brownish orange evenly, elongate; discal stigma not presented; costa nearly straight, slightly downward beyond 1/6; apex more or less acute; termen oblique, gradually merging into inner margin; fringe grey, with weak orange-white basal line; venation ( Fig. 4 ) with R1 arising from middle; distance between origin of R1 and R2 about twice that between R2 and R3; R3 stalked with R4+ 5 in basal 1/3; R4 and R5 stalked in basal 2/3; R5 to termen; M3 arising between M2 and CuA1 at base; cell closed. Hindwing broader than forewing, brownish grey; apex acute; termen oblique, slightly sinuate; venation with Sc and M1 short-stalked; M2 absent; M3 and CuA1 short-stalked

Male genitalia ( Figs. 7, 7a–b ). Basal lobes of uncus semiovate, directed laterally. Gnathos with sickle-shaped median process, strongly bent beyond middle and gently bent preapically. Costal bar connecting tegumen and basal part of valva band-shaped, without median angle. Valva with anterior margin strongly convex; long hairs densely set especially in lower part; apex slightly produced forming a short lobe; outer margin gently concave before middle, with sparsely peg-like scales along margin from apex to median protrusion; a bundle of hairs at base of crescent ridge originating from beyond middle of sacculus to near lower corner of cucullus; sacculus broadly developed. Juxta shield-shaped, with concave caudal margin; anterior margin produced medially. Phallus stout, as long as valva, strongly bent ventrally at basal 1/5, ventral margin sclerotized in apical part; cornuti a pair of straight, heavily sclerotized, needle-like processes.

Distribution. Cameroon.

Remarks. The forewing venation with all veins free is consistent with Homaloxestis , but the hindwing venation with M2 absent differs from that of congeners. However, the male genital characters are consistent with those of the genus, and these provide ample evidence that the species belongs to Homaloxestis .

Etymology. The specific epithet honors Dr. John E. Rawlins, a leading lepidopterist in the USA.

Figures

FIGURES 1–4. Adults and venation of Homaloxestis: 1, H.cholopis (Meyrick), with its label; 2, H. subpallida Meyrick, with its label; 3, H. rawlinsi sp. nov., holotype, with its label; 4, venation of H.rawlinsi, paratype.

FIGURES 5–7. Male genitalia of Homaloxestis: 5, H. cholopis (Meyrick); 5a, ditto, phallus; 5b, ditto, abdominal segments VII–VIII; 6, H. subpallida Meyrick; 6a, ditto, phallus; 6b, ditto, abdominal segments VII–VIII; 7, H. rawlinsi sp. nov.; 7a, ditto, phallus; 7b, ditto, abdominal segments VII–VIII.